Advancing Regional Action Against Plastic Pollution in the Pacific!

Last week, Kathy and Denise, traveled the Auckland (New Zealand) for a week filled with important discussions with key global partners: the United Nations, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), DCCEEW, and a fantastic group of countries, all to address one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time – plastic pollution.

Monday’s Regional Coordination Workshop

The week kicked off on Monday with a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Auckland, located by the beautiful waterfront. This meeting marked the start of a regional coordination workshop for Pacific nations, led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The workshop’s goal was to support Pacific small island developing states in addressing national action planning and source inventories for plastic pollution.

This session, supported by UNEP and organized by SPREP, brought together representatives from Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Tuvalu. It was a powerful opportunity to hear firsthand about the unique challenges each of these countries face and share the support they need to tackle plastic waste effectively. We were thrilled to sit together, discuss the needs of these countries, and strategize on how we can support them through the Pacific Ocean Litter Project (POLP) funding.

Although our SPREP-supported project includes only some of these nations, the United Nations has expressed interest in supporting expanded regional efforts for countries not yet included in the project. This collaboration extends beyond SPREP, UNEP, and CSIRO, with contributions from DCCEEW, the University of Wollongong, Common Seas, and other consultants enriching our discussions. Topics such as addressing data gaps, exploring legal instruments, improving capacity in countries, and understanding the diverse challenges facing island nations were all on the table.

 

 

Follow-up from SPREP Meetings: Coastal Monitoring and Baseline Surveys

A a two-day workshop on regional baseline surveys and coastal monitoring was held on the Tuesday and Wednesday, introducing the Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu to the upcoming programme under the Pacific Ocean Litter Project.

National focal points and senior government officials from each country attended, alongside two staff members from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), who gained a deeper understanding of the project.

Discussions focused on gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) considerations, as well as establishing a robust monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and learning (MERL) framework for the project’s success. We also shared global best practices for monitoring marine litter, with a special mention of CSIRO’s approach.

On Wednesday, we delved into the logistics, GEDSI factors, and how to align the project with each country’s specific needs. This tailored approach is key to ensuring the project effectively addresses the unique challenges faced by each nation.

Overall, the week has been an intense yet valuable experience, laying the groundwork for the Pacific Ocean Litter Project’s ongoing success. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and creating lasting solutions for plastic pollution in the Pacific.